Dakine Padded Ski Sleeve

When it’s time to head to the slopes, you’ll likely be loaded down with equipment. There are your skis and poles, along with any smaller items you need to carry, like lift tickets, sunglasses and a little cash to buy a cup of hot cocoa. Even before you’re ready to ski, though, you’ll need a way to contain and protect your skis as you carry them from home to your location.

A good ski bag, first and foremost, keeps your skis safe inside. Some provide 360-degree padding, which is especially important if you’re going to be checking them at the airport. This padding will ensure your skis don’t get scratched up or, worse, break while being transported. But if you’re traveling by car, you may find that padding isn’t as important as other features.

Before you start shopping for a ski bag, measure the length of your skis. Most ski bags advertise their capacity in centimeters, so you’ll have to know this measurement. If you have smaller skis, you’ll need a bag designed to fit that size. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to squeeze your ski poles in, and if you hope to store items like your jacket, sunglasses, goggles or a helmet inside, you may need to shop around for an option that can accommodate.

• When you head to the slopes, you’ll likely have more than your skis and poles. Some ski bags have handy pockets for storing items like glasses and your lift ticket. If you think you might remove your jacket or ski pants before heading back to the resort, look for a ski bag that has a little extra wiggle room for those.
• Your skis and poles will likely be wet when your day is over. Make sure you remove them as soon as you can and let the bag dry out. Some bags are vented to avoid moisture getting trapped inside to help keep mold risks to a minimum.
• Ski bags can be bulky and cumbersome. It may help to choose one with long handles that can be used to carry the skis on your shoulder. If you’ll be transporting them for a sizable distance, choose a bag that has a padded shoulder strap, ideally with Velcro that binds the two straps together on your shoulder while you walk.
• When you aren’t skiing, you’ll need to store your bag. Look for one that easily folds down to save space during storage.
• A bag with a zipper that runs the full length of the ski bag can make it easy to load and unload your skis.